Tape wrapping machine

• US 5,954,918 A
• Filed: 09/11/1997
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cam Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cam Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Belivakici, Thomas U.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAYES, MELVIN C
• Application Number:
  US08/927,424
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 156/443, 156/446, 156/459, 156/468, 156/510, 156/522, 156/494, 156/475, 156/392, 156/352, 156/358, 156/363, 156/365, 156/368, 156/486, 53/587, 53/588, 53/589
• US Class Current: 156/468
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 35/0013 and applying the article or the web by adhesive to a surface B65H35/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 35/006 with means for delivering a predetermined length of tape
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/12 Surface bonding means and/or assembly means with cutting, punching, piercing, severing or tearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1343 Cutting indefinite length web after assembly with discrete article

Abstract

An improved tape wrapping machine is provided which includes a tape slack device for creating a predetermined amount of untensioned slack in the tape web at the end of each cycle of operation to prevent the need for the operator to pull the tape from the supply roll at the beginning of the next taping cycle. The tape slack device includes a slack arm mounted for pivotal movement between tension and slack positions to create the necessary slack without movement of the tape supply roll. A tape feed support/slide and a retractable knife operate to effectively cut the web of tape during each cycle while creating an end portion of the tape for contact by the article during the next taping operation. The knife device is positioned to cut the nonadhesive side of the tape thereby permitting uninterrupted taping operations. A tape wrap collet includes elastomer fingers ensuring the tape conforms to the outer surface of the article thereby creating a tight tape wrap.

Claims

1. A tape wrapping machine for wrapping pressure sensitive tape around an article, comprising:

a support frame;

a tape supply means mounted on said support frame for providing a web of tape for movement along a feed path;

a tape wrap collet rotatably mounted on said frame a fixed spaced distance from said tape supply means for receiving the article and wrapping a cut length of tape around the article;

a tape slack means for creating a predetermined amount of untensioned slack in the tape web along said feed path while maintaining said fixed spaced distance between said tape wrap collet and said tape supply means, said tape slack means including a slack arm pivotally mounted on said support frame for abutment against the tape web, said slack arm being movable between a tension position maintaining tension in the tape web and a slack position creating untensioned slack in the tape web; and

a tape feed support means for supporting the tape web adjacent said tape wrap collet, said tape feed support means including a feed slide reciprocally mounted for movement between an extended position supporting the tape web and a retracted position creating an unsupported end portion of the tape web

wherein movement of said feed slide toward said retracted position causes movement of said slack arm toward said slack position, said slack arm being pivotally connected to said feed slide.

2. The tape wrapping machine of claim 1, further including a feed slide cam means for moving said feed slide between said extended and retracted positions and moving said slack arm between said tension and said slack positions.

3. The tape wrapping machine of claim 1, further including a tape cutting means mounted on the machine and positioned for cutting a nonadhesive side of the tape web.

4. The tape wrapping machine of claim 3, wherein said cutting means includes an elongated knife reciprocally mounted adjacent said feed slide and a knife cam means for moving said knife between a first position and a second position, wherein movement of said knife into said second position causes said knife to cut the tape web.

5. The tape wrapping machine of claim 4, wherein said knife cam means moves said knife into said second position when said feed slide is in said extended position.

6. The tape wrapping machine of claim 5, wherein said knife cam means includes an adjusting means for permitting adjustment in a timing of the movement of said knife into said second position relative to rotation of said tape wrap collet to vary said cut length of tape.

7. The tape wrapping machine of claim 1, wherein said tape wrap collet includes resilient grasping means for grasping the article to be wrapped, said resilient grasping means being formed of at least one an elastomer, foam and plastic material for contacting the article.

8. The tape wrapping machine of claim 1, further including a collet rotating means for rotating said tape wrap collet, and a safety guard and actuation means pivotally mounted on said support frame for movement between a closed position blocking access to said tape wrap collet and causing actuation of said collet rotating means and an open position, wherein movement of the article into said tape wrap collet causes movement of said safety guard and actuation means from said open position to said closed position and movement of the article out of said tape wrap collet causes movement of said safety guard and actuation means from said closed position to said open position.

9. A tape wrapping machine for wrapping pressure sensitive tape around an article, comprising:

a support frame;

a tape supply means mounted on said support frame for providing a web of tape for movement along a feed path;

a tape wrap collet rotatably mounted on said frame a fixed spaced distance from said tape supply means for receiving the article and wrapping a cut length of tape around the article;

a tape feed support means for supporting the tape web adjacent said tape wrap collet, said tape feed support means including a feed slide reciprocally mounted for movement between an extended position supporting the tape web and a retracted position creating an unsupported end portion of the tape web;

a tape cutting means mounted on the machine and positioned for cutting only a nonadhesive side of the tape web while avoiding contact with an adhesive side of the tape web, wherein said cutting means includes an elongated knife mounted adjacent said feed slide for reciprocal movement between a first position and a second position, wherein movement of said knife into said second position causes said knife to cut the tape web.

10. The tape wrapping machine of claim 9, wherein said cutting means further includes a knife actuating means for moving said knife into said second position when said feed slide is in said extended position.

11. The tape wrapping machine of claim 10, further including a feed slide cam means operatively connected to said feed slide for moving said feed slide between said extended and retracted positions, said knife actuating means including a knife cam means, said feed slide cam means and said knife cam means being positioned adjacent one another.

12. The tape wrapping machine of claim 11, wherein said knife cam means includes an adjusting means for permitting adjustment in a timing of the movement of said knife into said second position relative to rotation of said tape wrap collet to vary said cut length of tape.

13. The tape wrapping machine of claim 10, further including a tape slack means for creating a predetermined amount of untensioned slack in the tape web along said feed path, said tape slack means including a slack arm pivotally mounted on said support frame for abutment against the tape web, said slack arm being movable between a tension position maintaining tension in the tape web and a slack position creating untensioned slack in the tape web.

14. The tape wrapping machine of claim 13, wherein said slack arm is pivotally connected to said feed slide and movement of said feed slide toward said retracted position causes movement of said slack arm toward said slack position.

15. The tape wrapping machine of claim 9, wherein said tape wrap collet including resilient grasping means for grasping the article to be wrapped, said resilient grasping means being formed of at least one an elastomer, foam and plastic material for contacting the article.

16. The tape wrapping machine of claim 9, further including a collet rotating means for rotating said tape wrap collet, and a safety guard and actuation means pivotally mounted on said support frame for movement between a closed position blocking access to said tape wrap collet and causing actuation of said collet rotating means and an open position, wherein movement of the article into said tape wrap collet causes movement of said safety guard and actuation means from said open position to said closed position and movement of the article out of said tape wrap collet causes movement of said safety guard and actuation means from said closed position to said open position.

17. The tape wrapping machine of claim 9, wherein said feed slide includes a lower surface facing said tape wrap collet when said feed slide is in said extended position, said knife including an upper surface positioned in sliding abutment against said lower surface of said feed slide.

18. A tape wrapping machine for wrapping pressure sensitive tape around an article, comprising:

a support frame;

a tape supply means mounted on said support frame for providing a web of tape for movement along a feed path;

a tape wrap collet rotatably mounted on said frame a fixed spaced distance from said tape supply means for receiving the article and wrapping a cut length of tape around the article; and

a tape slack means for creating a predetermined amount of untensioned slack in the tape web along said feed path while maintaining said fixed spaced distance between said tape wrap collet and said tape supply means, said tape slack means including a slack arm pivotally mounted on said support frame for abutment against the tape web, said slack arm being movable between a tension position maintaining tension in the tape web and a slack position creating untensioned slack in the tape web;

further including a collet rotating means for rotating said tape wrap collet, and a safety guard and actuation means pivotally mounted on said support frame for movement between a closed position blocking access to said tape wrap collet and causing actuation of said collet rotating means and an open position, wherein movement of the article into said tape wrap collet causes movement of said safety guard and actuation means from said open position to said closed position and movement of the article out of said tape wrap collet causes movement of said safety guard and actuation means from said closed position to said open position.

19. A tape wrapping machine for wrapping pressure sensitive tape around an article, comprising:

a support frame;

a tape supply means mounted on said support frame for providing a web of tape for movement along a feed path;

a tape wrap collet rotatably mounted on said frame a fixed spaced distance from said tape supply means for receiving the article and wrapping a cut length of tape around the article;

a tape feed support means for supporting the tape web adjacent said tape wrap collet, said tape feed support means including a feed slide reciprocally mounted for movement between an extended position supporting the tape web and a retracted position creating an unsupported end portion of the tape web;

a tape cutting means mounted on the machine and positioned for cutting a nonadhesive side of the tape web, wherein said cutting means includes an elongated knife mounted adjacent said feed slide for reciprocal movement between a first position and a second position, wherein movement of said knife into said second position causes said knife to cut the tape web;

further including a collet rotating means for rotating said tape wrap collet, and a safety guard and actuation means pivotally mounted on said support frame for movement between a closed position blocking access to said tape wrap collet and causing actuation of said collet rotating means and an open position, wherein movement of the article into said tape wrap collet causes movement of said safety guard and actuation means from said open position to said closed position and movement of the article out of said tape wrap collet causes movement of said safety guard and actuation means from said closed position to said open position.

20. A tape wrapping machine for wrapping pressure sensitive tape around an article, comprising:

a support frame;

a tape supply means mounted on said support frame for providing a web of tape for movement along a feed path;

a tape wrap collet rotatably mounted on said frame a fixed spaced distance from said tape supply means for receiving the article and wrapping a cut length of tape around the article;

a tape feed support means for supporting the tape web adjacent said tape wrap collet, said tape feed support means including a feed slide reciprocally mounted for movement between an extended position supporting the tape web and a retracted position creating an unsupported end portion of the tape web;

a tape cutting means mounted on the machine and positioned for cutting a nonadhesive side of the tape web, wherein said cutting means includes an elongated knife mounted adjacent said feed slide for reciprocal movement between a first position and a second position, wherein movement of said knife into said second position causes said knife to cut the tape web;

wherein said feed slide includes a lower surface facing said tape wrap collet when said feed slide is in said extended position, said knife including an upper surface positioned in sliding abutment against said lower surface of said feed slide.